When Solving a Crime Involves Real Tricks

Sometimes mixing artistic genres not normally seen together can result in an exhilarating, revelatory production. Sometimes, though, it can result in an insipid, largely incoherent mishmash. Which brings us to “The Uncanny Appearance of Sherlock Holmes,” a detective story at the Here Arts Center enacted by a rock band that also performs circus tricks.

Sounds like a hoot, right? Well, it isn’t, first and foremost because the disparate elements in this production by North American Cultural Laboratory never cohere. The story, by Brad Krumholz, who also directed, goes something like this: Holmes (Brett Keyser) is called on to investigate two murders — of Jeremy Nietzsche and Kevin Freud; ah, the cleverness of it! — and along the way confronts some self-doubt because of the presence of a crackerjack female detective (Sarah Dey Hirshan).

The premise sounds promising, but the execution is short on wit and long on confusion. Every now and then the actors take up instruments and slam out a rock song with minimal connection to the story, and some tumbling and circus arts are thrown in as well.

A couple of the circus tricks are moderately impressive, but the actor-musicians aren’t very good actors or rockers. The band seems afraid to play too loudly (earplugs are offered to the audience before the show starts), but really it isn’t playing loudly enough; the music seems thin and without verve. Only Mr. Keyser, looking like David Bowie, has some decent vocal moments.

On the acting end, Mr. Krumholz has everyone working in a sort of stylized posturing reminiscent of experiments in Surrealism from half a century ago. Perhaps it’s an attempt to cover up the cast’s acting weaknesses, but somehow it only underscores them.